Tummy Tuck in Dallas, TX
Women and men struggle with excess abdominal skin and weakened muscles due to pregnancy, significant weight loss, and aging. A tummy tuck, also known as an abdominoplasty, is a surgical procedure that improves the appearance of the stomach by removing excess skin and fat, tightening the core muscles, and creating a more toned and contoured midsection.
Dr. Prem Patel at WOW Cosmetic Surgery in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, specializes in tummy tucks to help patients achieve their aesthetic goals and restore confidence in their appearance.
With your tummy tuck, we want you to Look WOW, Feel WOW, and Be WOW!
What Is a Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck is a cosmetic procedure that targets the abdominal area. A tummy tuck aims to achieve a flatter and more toned tummy, typically after pregnancy or significant weight loss. Tummy tucks can be customized to meet individual patient needs and involves different techniques depending on the extent of correction required.
Following a tummy tuck, you can expect the following:
- A smoother, more contoured body shape
- Improved skin tone and elasticity
- Reduced fat bulges in the abdominal area
- Tighter, repaired abdominal muscles
- Improved posture and reduced back pain
- A midsection that WOWs!
What Are My Tummy Tuck Options?
No two patients have the same abdominal contours. Because of this, no two tummy tucks are the same. This surgery will be customized to your needs and stem from one of the following techniques.
During a traditional tummy tuck, a horizontal incision is made across the lower abdomen from hipbone to hipbone. This incision allows access to the lower and upper abdomen. A traditional tummy tuck removes excess skin and fat and tightens loose or separated abdominal muscles. An additional incision is made around the navel to reposition the belly button.
A mini tummy tuck is a variation of the above technique that requires a shorter incision and allows for less downtime. Unfortunately, this technique also provides more limited results. The mini tummy tuck is appropriate for patients whose laxity is limited to the center of their lower abdomen. This technique does not allow for the correction of anything above the belly button or towards the hips.
An extended tummy tuck is performed when laxity is present beyond the abdomen to the hips. With this technique, the incision extends laterally beyond the hip bones to address the hip area.
Am I a Candidate for a Tummy Tuck?
Candidates for a tummy tuck generally have excess skin and fat in the abdominal area, weakened abdominal muscles, and have reached a stable weight.
The ideal tummy tuck candidate should:
- Be healthy and free of conditions that may negatively affect recovery.
- Be a non-smoker.
- Not be taking blood-thinning medications or supplements.
- Have realistic expectations and accept that the results of the procedure will be unique.
Dr. Patel will assess your specific concerns, medical history, and aesthetic goals to create a personalized treatment plan to achieve a flatter, more toned abdomen.
How Is the Tummy Tuck Performed?
Tummy tuck surgery is an outpatient procedure that usually takes two to three hours; however, the duration may vary depending on individual factors.
While tummy tuck surgery is customized to you, you can anticipate the following:
- You will meet with Dr. Patel preoperatively to review the details of your procedure.
- General anesthesia will be administered for your safety and comfort.
- Pre-marked incisions across the abdomen are made depending on the type of tummy tuck being performed. These incisions are made as low as allowable to conceal scars beneath underwear and bikinis.
- The skin is lifted and separated from the underlying abdominal muscles.
- The weakened or separated abdominal muscles are tightened and sutured together, creating a firmer and more defined waistline. This step can also help improve core strength and posture.
- Excess skin and fat are removed to achieve a smoother abdominal contour.
- Dr. Patel sculpts the remaining skin and tissue, ensuring a natural-looking and aesthetically pleasing result.
- Once the desired corrections are made, Dr. Patel closes the incisions using sutures and may place temporary drainage tubes to reduce fluid accumulation.
- Dressings are placed to protect the incisions and aid healing.
Patients are carefully monitored during the initial recovery period. Dr. Patel provides detailed postoperative instructions, including guidelines for pain management, wound care, and activity restrictions, to promote optimal healing.
What Is Tummy Tuck Recovery Like?
The recovery process after a tummy tuck is different for everyone. It depends on many factors, including age, overall health, and activity level before surgery. Dr. Patel will discuss the specifics with you during your consultation.
You can expect to be sore, bruised, swollen, and tight following your tummy tuck. Prescribed or over-the-counter pain medication can help alleviate discomfort. You must rest comfortably and limit strenuous activity. Immediately post-op, try to move around just enough to ensure proper blood circulation.
Most patients can return to desk-type jobs after one to two weeks; however, it will take at least six weeks to return to more strenuous activities like running or weightlifting.
What Results Can I Expect From Tummy Tuck?
While you may not see the full results of your tummy tuck immediately, they will gradually develop as bruising and swelling subside, showing a more toned and defined midsection with a flatter stomach and enhanced silhouette.
To maintain great results, exercise regularly and maintain a stable weight. While this surgery will remove excess skin and fat, it is possible to gain weight if a healthy lifestyle is not followed.
Why Should I Choose WOW Cosmetic Surgery for My Tummy Tuck?
The popularity of tummy tuck procedures has grown significantly as more people seek to improve their body contours and self-confidence. However, choosing a qualified and experienced cosmetic surgeon is crucial to ensure the best possible results and minimize the risk of complications.
Dr. Prem Patel is a board-certified cosmetic surgeon in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, specializing in body contouring procedures, including tummy tucks. Dr. Patel has extensive experience and training in the latest surgical techniques and technologies, allowing him to provide patients with personalized and effective treatment options.
Tummy Tuck FAQs
Your tummy tuck cost varies depending on the extent of the procedure, the techniques used, and whether liposuction, breast surgery, or fat transfer is performed simultaneously. You will also have additional fees, such as anesthesia and facility fees. WOW Cosmetic Surgery offers financing options.
Tummy tuck surgery is performed under general anesthesia for your comfort and safety. At WOW Cosmetic Surgery, we strive to provide top-of-the-line pain management protocols. We can offer our tummy tuck patients a TAP (transversus abdominis plane) block to further minimize pain following surgery. This block numbs the entire abdomen and helps relieve the initial discomfort. We can also offer Exparel, a long-acting local anesthetic.
Both liposuction and tummy tuck surgery removes localized fat pockets in the abdomen. Because liposuction is a less-invasive procedure, many are interested in liposuction alone. This option is only appropriate for patients with good skin elasticity and those without diastasis recti. If you have stretched or loose skin or muscle separation, you will need to undergo a tummy tuck to achieve optimal results. Majority of the time, tummy tuck surgery will also need to include liposuction of the hips and flanks to achieve a more aesthetic contour.
Diastasis recti occurs when the two sides of the abdominal muscles separate or detach. This is a typical result of pregnancy or significant weight fluctuations and can give the appearance of a “pooched” or wrinkled abdomen. Unfortunately, diastasis recti cannot be corrected with exercise, and surgery is your only treatment option.
During a tummy tuck, the two sides of the abdominal rectus muscle are brought back together and stitched up like an internal corset. This rectus muscle plication is what greatly provides that flatter abdominal look.
A tummy tuck will not prevent you from getting pregnant or affect your pregnancy. That said, many women choose this procedure due to the effects of pregnancy and childbirth on their bodies. There is a possibility that pregnancy after tummy tuck surgery will have the same consequences on your abdomen that your initial pregnancies did.
A tummy tuck removes excess skin in the lower abdomen, which is a common area for postpartum stretch marks. Because of this, tummy tuck does remove many lower stretch marks; however, it is not guaranteed to remove all stretch marks on the abdomen.
Much like liposuction and other cosmetic surgery procedures, tummy tuck is not intended for weight loss and should not be used as a replacement for a healthy diet or exercise routine. While patients can see a noticeable change in their physique after a tummy tuck, it will likely only amount to a few pounds on the scale. In fact, patients should be close to their goal weight to achieve optimal results.
While it makes sense that patients want the least invasive method for their abdominal transformation, choosing the technique best suited to their needs is more important. For instance, if you undergo a mini tummy tuck when you require a full tummy tuck, you will have a smooth area in the central area and looseness towards the hips, commonly known as “dog ears.” The best way to determine the proper technique is to schedule a consultation with a board-certified cosmetic surgeon with experience in tummy tuck variations.
Interested in Tummy Tuck in Dallas, TX?
If you are interested in tummy tuck surgery and want to learn more about the procedure, schedule a consultation with Dr. Prem Patel at WOW Cosmetic Surgery today! Contact us today at (833) DR WOW MD or fill out our online contact form.
